El Corazon de Costa Mesa

The newly rebranded lifestyle center, The Triangle in Costa Mesa is celebrating the opening of El Corazon de Costa Mesa on Saturday, April 20 at 4 p.m.  El Corazon will offer an innovative menu inspired by Mexico’s seaside cantinas coupled with a list of handcrafted cocktails.

Chef Armando Martinez, who trained with award-winning chef Rick Bayless created the El Corazon’s coastal Mexican cuisine menu and he was as executive chef of Red O, Bayless’s popular Los Angeles restaurant. El Corazon is a come as you are, drink-in-your-hand destination with an affordable menu, farm-to-fork flavors, and family-style dining.  Signature dishes are priced from $5 to $19 and include Spicy Tuna Tacos ($10.75) served sashimi style on a thin slice of jicama and topped with a tropical slaw of green mango, papaya and chayote then dusted with sesame and crushed pepitas. 

The Yellowtail in Agua Chile ($10.75) features raw Baja yellowtail marinated in aguachile, a blend of lime juice and Serrano chiles, then tossed with red onion, mango and cucumber and garnished with avocado and olive oil.  Sweet Corn Tamal ($8.75), a street food-inspired dish, features fresh ground corn mesa steamed in a corn husk and garnished with roasted tomatillo, truffle crema, grilled corn and queso fresco.

You won’t want to pass up one of their Margaritas with combinations such as banana and mint, berries and basil, and spiked melon with a blend of watermelon and honeydew.  Imbibers can also create their own margarita, starting at $8.50, by selecting a premium tequila and combining it with a choice of fruit, such as strawberry, blueberry, mango or blackberries along with a selection of fresh-plucked herbs including mint, basil, rosemary, sage, tarragon or cilantro.  

Open daily from 4 p.m. with extended hours until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.  On May 20, the restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. Monday to Friday with breakfast offered Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 a.m.

El Corazon de Costa Mesa is at The Triangle at 1870 Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa.  949.612.2349.